Councillors check out supermarket plans

By Rebecca Fraser
THE Hallam community will be given one last say on controversial plans to build a BI-LO supermarket at the Spring Square shopping precinct.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, councillor Janet Halsall moved that a decision on the development be deferred so that she and councillor Wayne Smith could be thoroughly briefed on the issue.
Cr Halsall said this was a new issue that both councillors had jointly inherited following the recent council elections and the redrawing of electoral boundaries.
The River Gum Ward councillor also moved that another public meeting be held on the matter to give the public one last say.
“This is a very controversial, complex and convoluted issue and I do not believe that we are sufficiently informed as yet.
“We need to get out and seek more specific opinions than those just derived from the (council) questionnaires,” he said.
Three community meetings have already been held to discuss the controversial proposal and Cr Wayne Smith urged members of the public to come and express their views.
“I attended one of these meetings and it surprised me that a majority of people there were clearly against this and they feel a lot of anger and resentment towards this issue.
“This will be the last opportunity for people to express their view and will give councillors the opportunity to talk to the community,” he said.
In September a decision on the development was also deferred and handballed to the new Casey Council.
The move came after former councillor Brian Oates raised concerns that the million dollar development at Freeway Sports Centre in Doveton and the construction of the large supermarket in Hallam may kill off local strip shops.
He moved that a report, conducted by MacroPlan consultancy group on the social and economic impact of the Freeway Sports development be made public before a decision was taken.
However, a new council report states that the study holds no relevance to the proposed Spring Square development as both the Hallam and Doveton developments involve different retail sectors.
The proposed supermarket has generated a great deal of community concern and anger within the Hallam community this year – particularly over its location.
President of the Hallam Senior Citizens Martin Martens has lived in the suburb for more than 30 years and said he hoped the council would vote against the development.
“There are enough shops here already and we do not need any more.
“It will be interesting to see whether the decision is made for the people or for big business.
“I hope and pray that common sense prevails as a lot of people don’t need this or want this,” he said.
Norbie Garduce, who runs the Spring Square Tattslotto, said the new supermarket could benefit the community but should not be built if people do not want it.
“I think this would advantage all locals as it would lead to cheaper products and would mean that people did not have to travel to a big supermarket.
“It would also be good for young kids wanting jobs.
“But if the locals disagree and do not want this then I cannot see the point of putting it here,” he said.
A date for the public meeting has not been set.